US has enough H5N1 vaccine for 13 million

[Guest guest]

What insanity - see my pages for links on the lies on birdflu

http://www.wellwithin1.com/avianbirdflu.htm

and Dr. Sherri Tenpenny's book on Bird Flu

http://www.nmaseminars.com/fowlDESCRIPTION.html

FOWL! Bird Flu:

It's Not What You Think

and her webpages

http://www.birdfluhype.com/

And how Rumsfeld makes money off of alll the Tamiflu

And how long was this vaccine tested for and whom and how long were they

followed............??

" The vaccine, based on a clade 1 virus isolated from a Vietnamese

patient in 2004, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in

April 2007. Although no one knows how well it would work against

an emerging pandemic strain of H5N1, HHS officials

hope it would provide some protection to those most at risk

for exposure in the early months of a pandemic "

Sheri

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/mar2008panupdate.html

US has enough H5N1 vaccine for 13 million peopleMar 20,

2008 (CIDRAP News) – A progress report released today says the US

government has stockpiled enough prepandemic H5N1 influenza vaccine for

13 million people, more than double the number listed in the previous

report, issued last July.

The report on pandemic preparations by the Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS) also says the government plans to release a new version of

its pandemic vaccine allocation plan in coming months, after considering

comments at a series of recent meetings and forums.

The 16-page report from HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt lists a wide range of

HHS pandemic preparations. It emphasizes the agency's efforts to

collaborate with other stakeholders in tackling problems like vaccine

allocation and who should bear the burden of stockpiling supplies such as

face masks, respirators, and antiviral drugs. The report is the fifth in

a series that began in March 2006.

Concerning the H5N1 vaccine, the report says, " By the end of 2007,

HHS had purchased and stockpiled 13 million courses of pre-pandemic

vaccine. " The previous report, issued in mid-July, said the agency

had acquired 12 million doses of the vaccine, enough for 6 million

people.

The vaccine, based on a clade 1 virus isolated from a Vietnamese patient

in 2004, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in April 2007.

Although no one knows how well it would work against an emerging pandemic

strain of H5N1, HHS officials hope it would provide some protection to

those most at risk for exposure in the early months of a pandemic.

The report also says that HHS has acquired enough antiviral drugs to

treat 40 million people, or about 80% of the agency's goal of 50 million.

Officials want the states to buy enough additional doses with the help of

a 25% federal subsidy to treat another 31 million people. The report does

not specify how many courses the states have bought but says that many

have purchased " the full subsidized amount or more. "

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently told CIDRAP

News that the federal antiviral stockpile has reached 39.8 million

treatment courses of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and 9.9 million courses of

zanamivir (Relenza). Both drugs are neuraminidase inhibitors; oseltamivir

is the recommended first-line treatment for H5N1 infection. .

The progress report say HHS has reached out to state and local

governments, medical professionals, religious leaders and ethicists,

business, organized labor, and individuals for help in pandemic planning.

Recent efforts included two public meetings in November and a Web

dialogue last December that drew more than 400 people from 37 states into

a discussion of the proposed vaccine allocation plan.

During a recent pandemic simulation exercise, CDC officials said it would

take at least 4 or 5 months to start producing a vaccine well-matched to

an emerging pandemic virus. Last October HHS released a draft vaccine

allocation plan that assigned priority to deployed military and other

critical national security personnel, emergency medical services and

public safety workers, key government officials, medical providers and

public health workers, pregnant women, infants, and toddlers.

In the recent meetings and forums, the progress report says,

" experts and the public identified the most important vaccination

goals as protecting those who will be the first to respond to the

pandemic and care for the sick, those who keep vital community services

working, those who have increased exposure due to their jobs, and

pregnant women and children. "

Some senior citizens involved in the discussions said they would

willingly give up their vaccine doses in favor of their grandchildren,

despite the likelihood that their own mortality risk would be high, the

HHS report says.

" Based on these dialogues and the thoughtful input of so many

segments of society, a working group of government officials is in the

process of refining the allocation plan with the goal to release the plan

in the coming months, " it states.

Other recent collaboration efforts, the report says, included nearly 20

meetings around the country last fall to consider " the shared

responsibility concept of stockpiling medical countermeasures (vaccines,

antivirals, rapid diagnostic tests, and masks/respirators), as well as

private-sector stockpiling of antivirals. " HHS plans to draft a

guidance document on those topics, but the report lists no timeline.

In other areas, the report says HHS:

Has awarded 27 contracts worth $3.5 billion since 2005 to develop

plans and begin projects in its medical countermeasures program Has invested more than $130 million in research on vaccine adjuvants

(substances that boost the immune response to a vaccine) Plans to study the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and communication

message needs of vulnerable groups such as the homeless and

non-English-speakers, with the aim of developing messages about community

mitigation measures for combating a pandemic.

See also:

HHS report " Pandemic Update V "

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/panflureport5.html

Mar 14 CIDRAP News story

"

HHS issues pandemic planning guide for states "

Oct 24, 2007, CIDRAP News story " Pandemic vaccine proposal

favors health workers, children "

Jul 19, 2007, CIDRAP News story

"

HHS updates pandemic stockpile totals and planning efforts "

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales

UK

Vaccines -

http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Vaccine Dangers &

Childhood Disease & Homeopathy Email classes start in March

[Guest guest]

It's amazing... I was reading about a recent " flu pandemic " drill

that the CDC conducted. You can read about it here:

http://tinyurl.com/3bonzx (day 1 drill)

http://tinyurl.com/3aw6xs (day 2 drill)

It makes you wonder how much money they devoted to this excercise? A

60 hr drill made up of hundreds of employees on this realistic

scenario... It seems to me that the CDC is almost betting on a bird

flu pandemic - they seem almost giddy at the thought. On that second

day, we have Dr. Gerbil herself saying:

" Towards the ened of the briefing, there was a word from the

Director, Dr. Gerberding , about the need to include new media in

future information plans: " we need to be blogging " , she told her

chiefs. Well, maybe not exactly the way we do, and maybe not now, but

recognition that in a new pandemic, different rules of engagement

will need to apply. [And if we're asking them to think about it,

we'll have to think about it on our part as well. Imagine how we

would handle the information on tamiflu deaths, similar to when we

were discussing the Japanese media reports of same] " .

" about the need to include new media in future information plans: " we

need to be blogging " ...

-- Wow, she actually wants media involved... There's a switch. From

what I know of Gerbil, she doesn't exactly appreciate the media being

involved in matters of substance. Apparently she picks and chooses

her issues of concern.

" different rules of engagement will need to apply " .

- What, like forced vaccination?

Seems to me that someone wants people to be scared crapless about

bird flu... I wonder why? Really, I wonder if we could have

conducted a well-thought out study on vaccinated vs. unvaccinated

kids with that money. I guess there's no money to be found there.

>

> What insanity - see my pages for links on the lies on birdflu

> http://www.wellwithin1.com/avianbirdflu.htm

>

> and Dr. Sherri Tenpenny's book on Bird Flu

> http://www.nmaseminars.com/fowlDESCRIPTION.html

> FOWL! Bird Flu:

> It's Not What You Think

>

> and her webpages http://www.birdfluhype.com/

>

>

>

> And how Rumsfeld makes money off of alll the Tamiflu

>

> And how long was this vaccine tested for and whom

> and how long were they followed............??

>

> " The vaccine, based on a clade 1 virus isolated

> from a Vietnamese patient in 2004, was approved

> by the Food and Drug Administration in April

> 2007. Although no one knows how well it would

> work against an emerging pandemic strain of H5N1,

> HHS officials hope it would provide some

> protection to those most at risk for exposure in

> the early months of a pandemic "

>

> Sheri

>

>

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/mar2008

panupdate.html

>

>

> US has enough H5N1 vaccine for 13 million people

>

> Mar 20, 2008 (CIDRAP News) – A progress report

> released today says the US government has

> stockpiled enough prepandemic H5N1 influenza

> vaccine for 13 million people, more than double

> the number listed in the previous report, issued last July.

>

> The report on pandemic preparations by the

> Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

> also says the government plans to release a new

> version of its pandemic vaccine allocation plan

> in coming months, after considering comments at a

> series of recent meetings and forums.

>

> The 16-page report from HHS Secretary Mike

> Leavitt lists a wide range of HHS pandemic

> preparations. It emphasizes the agency's efforts

> to collaborate with other stakeholders in

> tackling problems like vaccine allocation and who

> should bear the burden of stockpiling supplies

> such as face masks, respirators, and antiviral

> drugs. The report is the fifth in a series that began in March 2006.

>

> Concerning the H5N1 vaccine, the report says, " By

> the end of 2007, HHS had purchased and stockpiled

> 13 million courses of pre-pandemic vaccine. " The

> previous report, issued in mid-July, said the

> agency had acquired 12 million doses of the

> vaccine, enough for 6 million people.

>

> The vaccine, based on a clade 1 virus isolated

> from a Vietnamese patient in 2004, was approved

> by the Food and Drug Administration in April

> 2007. Although no one knows how well it would

> work against an emerging pandemic strain of H5N1,

> HHS officials hope it would provide some

> protection to those most at risk for exposure in

> the early months of a pandemic.

>

> The report also says that HHS has acquired enough

> antiviral drugs to treat 40 million people, or

> about 80% of the agency's goal of 50 million.

> Officials want the states to buy enough

> additional doses with the help of a 25% federal

> subsidy to treat another 31 million people. The

> report does not specify how many courses the

> states have bought but says that many have

> purchased " the full subsidized amount or more. "

>

> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

> (CDC) recently told CIDRAP News that the federal

> antiviral stockpile has reached 39.8 million

> treatment courses of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and

> 9.9 million courses of zanamivir (Relenza). Both

> drugs are neuraminidase inhibitors; oseltamivir

> is the recommended first-line treatment for H5N1 infection. .

>

> The progress report say HHS has reached out to

> state and local governments, medical

> professionals, religious leaders and ethicists,

> business, organized labor, and individuals for

> help in pandemic planning. Recent efforts

> included two public meetings in November and a

> Web dialogue last December that drew more than

> 400 people from 37 states into a discussion of

> the proposed vaccine allocation plan.

>

> During a recent pandemic simulation exercise, CDC

> officials said it would take at least 4 or 5

> months to start producing a vaccine well-matched

> to an emerging pandemic virus. Last October HHS

> released a draft vaccine allocation plan that

> assigned priority to deployed military and other

> critical national security personnel, emergency

> medical services and public safety workers, key

> government officials, medical providers and

> public health workers, pregnant women, infants, and toddlers.

>

> In the recent meetings and forums, the progress

> report says, " experts and the public identified

> the most important vaccination goals as

> protecting those who will be the first to respond

> to the pandemic and care for the sick, those who

> keep vital community services working, those who

> have increased exposure due to their jobs, and pregnant women and

children. "

>

> Some senior citizens involved in the discussions

> said they would willingly give up their vaccine

> doses in favor of their grandchildren, despite

> the likelihood that their own mortality risk

> would be high, the HHS report says.

>

> " Based on these dialogues and the thoughtful

> input of so many segments of society, a working

> group of government officials is in the process

> of refining the allocation plan with the goal to

> release the plan in the coming months, " it states.

>

> Other recent collaboration efforts, the report

> says, included nearly 20 meetings around the

> country last fall to consider " the shared

> responsibility concept of stockpiling medical

> countermeasures (vaccines, antivirals, rapid

> diagnostic tests, and masks/respirators), as well

> as private-sector stockpiling of antivirals. " HHS

> plans to draft a guidance document on those

> topics, but the report lists no timeline.

>

> In other areas, the report says HHS:

> * Has awarded 27 contracts worth $3.5 billion

> since 2005 to develop plans and begin projects in

> its medical countermeasures program

> * Has invested more than $130 million in

> research on vaccine adjuvants (substances that

> boost the immune response to a vaccine)

> * Plans to study the knowledge, attitudes,

> beliefs, and communication message needs of

> vulnerable groups such as the homeless and

> non-English-speakers, with the aim of developing

> messages about community mitigation measures for combating a

pandemic.

>

> See also:

>

> HHS report " Pandemic Update V "

>

<http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/panflureport5.html>http://www.pandemi

cflu.gov/plan/panflureport5.html

>

>

> Mar 14 CIDRAP News story

> " <http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/mar

1408states.html>HHS

> issues pandemic planning guide for states "

>

>

<http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/oct240

7allocation.html>Oct

> 24, 2007, CIDRAP News story " Pandemic vaccine

> proposal favors health workers, children "

>

> Jul 19, 2007, CIDRAP News story

> " <http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/jul

1907update.html>HHS

> updates pandemic stockpile totals and planning efforts "

>

>

> --------------------------------------------------------

> Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

> Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

> Vaccines -

> http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Vaccine

> Dangers & Childhood Disease & Homeopathy Email classes start in

March

>

[Guest guest]

I guess you wouldn't be suprised at the amount of Tamiflu the

government purchased from a company whose board member was our

previous secretary of defense....They spent 8 million on stockpiling

tamiflu...about 4 years ago and it was never used, but Rumsfield sure

made a pretty nice profit...The government purchased the tamiflu

while Rumsfield was still in offic...and so it goes...

" <suemisiaszek@...> wrote:

>

> It's amazing... I was reading about a recent " flu pandemic " drill

> that the CDC conducted. You can read about it here:

>

> http://tinyurl.com/3bonzx (day 1 drill)

>

> http://tinyurl.com/3aw6xs (day 2 drill)

>

>

> It makes you wonder how much money they devoted to this excercise?

A

> 60 hr drill made up of hundreds of employees on this realistic

> scenario... It seems to me that the CDC is almost betting on a bird

> flu pandemic - they seem almost giddy at the thought. On that

second

> day, we have Dr. Gerbil herself saying:

>

> " Towards the ened of the briefing, there was a word from the

> Director, Dr. Gerberding , about the need to include new media in

> future information plans: " we need to be blogging " , she told her

> chiefs. Well, maybe not exactly the way we do, and maybe not now,

but

> recognition that in a new pandemic, different rules of engagement

> will need to apply. [And if we're asking them to think about it,

> we'll have to think about it on our part as well. Imagine how we

> would handle the information on tamiflu deaths, similar to when we

> were discussing the Japanese media reports of same] " .

>

>

> " about the need to include new media in future information

plans: " we

> need to be blogging " ...

>

> -- Wow, she actually wants media involved... There's a switch.

From

> what I know of Gerbil, she doesn't exactly appreciate the media

being

> involved in matters of substance. Apparently she picks and chooses

> her issues of concern.

>

> " different rules of engagement will need to apply " .

>

> - What, like forced vaccination?

>

>

> Seems to me that someone wants people to be scared crapless about

> bird flu... I wonder why? Really, I wonder if we could have

> conducted a well-thought out study on vaccinated vs. unvaccinated

> kids with that money. I guess there's no money to be found there.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > What insanity - see my pages for links on the lies on birdflu

> > http://www.wellwithin1.com/avianbirdflu.htm

> >

> > and Dr. Sherri Tenpenny's book on Bird Flu

> > http://www.nmaseminars.com/fowlDESCRIPTION.html

> > FOWL! Bird Flu:

> > It's Not What You Think

> >

> > and her webpages http://www.birdfluhype.com/

> >

> >

> >

> > And how Rumsfeld makes money off of alll the Tamiflu

> >

> > And how long was this vaccine tested for and whom

> > and how long were they followed............??

> >

> > " The vaccine, based on a clade 1 virus isolated

> > from a Vietnamese patient in 2004, was approved

> > by the Food and Drug Administration in April

> > 2007. Although no one knows how well it would

> > work against an emerging pandemic strain of H5N1,

> > HHS officials hope it would provide some

> > protection to those most at risk for exposure in

> > the early months of a pandemic "

> >

> > Sheri

> >

> >

>

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/mar2008

> panupdate.html

> >

> >

> > US has enough H5N1 vaccine for 13 million people

> >

> > Mar 20, 2008 (CIDRAP News) – A progress report

> > released today says the US government has

> > stockpiled enough prepandemic H5N1 influenza

> > vaccine for 13 million people, more than double

> > the number listed in the previous report, issued last July.

> >

> > The report on pandemic preparations by the

> > Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

> > also says the government plans to release a new

> > version of its pandemic vaccine allocation plan

> > in coming months, after considering comments at a

> > series of recent meetings and forums.

> >

> > The 16-page report from HHS Secretary Mike

> > Leavitt lists a wide range of HHS pandemic

> > preparations. It emphasizes the agency's efforts

> > to collaborate with other stakeholders in

> > tackling problems like vaccine allocation and who

> > should bear the burden of stockpiling supplies

> > such as face masks, respirators, and antiviral

> > drugs. The report is the fifth in a series that began in March

2006.

> >

> > Concerning the H5N1 vaccine, the report says, " By

> > the end of 2007, HHS had purchased and stockpiled

> > 13 million courses of pre-pandemic vaccine. " The

> > previous report, issued in mid-July, said the

> > agency had acquired 12 million doses of the

> > vaccine, enough for 6 million people.

> >

> > The vaccine, based on a clade 1 virus isolated

> > from a Vietnamese patient in 2004, was approved

> > by the Food and Drug Administration in April

> > 2007. Although no one knows how well it would

> > work against an emerging pandemic strain of H5N1,

> > HHS officials hope it would provide some

> > protection to those most at risk for exposure in

> > the early months of a pandemic.

> >

> > The report also says that HHS has acquired enough

> > antiviral drugs to treat 40 million people, or

> > about 80% of the agency's goal of 50 million.

> > Officials want the states to buy enough

> > additional doses with the help of a 25% federal

> > subsidy to treat another 31 million people. The

> > report does not specify how many courses the

> > states have bought but says that many have

> > purchased " the full subsidized amount or more. "

> >

> > The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

> > (CDC) recently told CIDRAP News that the federal

> > antiviral stockpile has reached 39.8 million

> > treatment courses of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and

> > 9.9 million courses of zanamivir (Relenza). Both

> > drugs are neuraminidase inhibitors; oseltamivir

> > is the recommended first-line treatment for H5N1 infection. .

> >

> > The progress report say HHS has reached out to

> > state and local governments, medical

> > professionals, religious leaders and ethicists,

> > business, organized labor, and individuals for

> > help in pandemic planning. Recent efforts

> > included two public meetings in November and a

> > Web dialogue last December that drew more than

> > 400 people from 37 states into a discussion of

> > the proposed vaccine allocation plan.

> >

> > During a recent pandemic simulation exercise, CDC

> > officials said it would take at least 4 or 5

> > months to start producing a vaccine well-matched

> > to an emerging pandemic virus. Last October HHS

> > released a draft vaccine allocation plan that

> > assigned priority to deployed military and other

> > critical national security personnel, emergency

> > medical services and public safety workers, key

> > government officials, medical providers and

> > public health workers, pregnant women, infants, and toddlers.

> >

> > In the recent meetings and forums, the progress

> > report says, " experts and the public identified

> > the most important vaccination goals as

> > protecting those who will be the first to respond

> > to the pandemic and care for the sick, those who

> > keep vital community services working, those who

> > have increased exposure due to their jobs, and pregnant women and

> children. "

> >

> > Some senior citizens involved in the discussions

> > said they would willingly give up their vaccine

> > doses in favor of their grandchildren, despite

> > the likelihood that their own mortality risk

> > would be high, the HHS report says.

> >

> > " Based on these dialogues and the thoughtful

> > input of so many segments of society, a working

> > group of government officials is in the process

> > of refining the allocation plan with the goal to

> > release the plan in the coming months, " it states.

> >

> > Other recent collaboration efforts, the report

> > says, included nearly 20 meetings around the

> > country last fall to consider " the shared

> > responsibility concept of stockpiling medical

> > countermeasures (vaccines, antivirals, rapid

> > diagnostic tests, and masks/respirators), as well

> > as private-sector stockpiling of antivirals. " HHS

> > plans to draft a guidance document on those

> > topics, but the report lists no timeline.

> >

> > In other areas, the report says HHS:

> > * Has awarded 27 contracts worth $3.5 billion

> > since 2005 to develop plans and begin projects in

> > its medical countermeasures program

> > * Has invested more than $130 million in

> > research on vaccine adjuvants (substances that

> > boost the immune response to a vaccine)

> > * Plans to study the knowledge, attitudes,

> > beliefs, and communication message needs of

> > vulnerable groups such as the homeless and

> > non-English-speakers, with the aim of developing

> > messages about community mitigation measures for combating a

> pandemic.

> >

> > See also:

> >

> > HHS report " Pandemic Update V "

> >

>

<http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/panflureport5.html>http://www.pandemi

> cflu.gov/plan/panflureport5.html

> >

> >

> > Mar 14 CIDRAP News story

>

> " <http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/mar

> 1408states.html>HHS

> > issues pandemic planning guide for states "

> >

> >

>

<http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/oct240

> 7allocation.html>Oct

> > 24, 2007, CIDRAP News story " Pandemic vaccine

> > proposal favors health workers, children "

> >

> > Jul 19, 2007, CIDRAP News story

>

> " <http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/jul

> 1907update.html>HHS

> > updates pandemic stockpile totals and planning efforts "

> >

> >

> > --------------------------------------------------------

> > Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

> > Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales

UK

> > Vaccines -

> > http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Vaccine

> > Dangers & Childhood Disease & Homeopathy Email classes start in

> March

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yeah, I know... Ever read The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein? Good

read. Nothing surprises me anymore.

> > >

> > > What insanity - see my pages for links on the lies on birdflu

> > > http://www.wellwithin1.com/avianbirdflu.htm

> > >

> > > and Dr. Sherri Tenpenny's book on Bird Flu

> > > http://www.nmaseminars.com/fowlDESCRIPTION.html

> > > FOWL! Bird Flu:

> > > It's Not What You Think

> > >

> > > and her webpages http://www.birdfluhype.com/

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > And how Rumsfeld makes money off of alll the Tamiflu

> > >

> > > And how long was this vaccine tested for and whom

> > > and how long were they followed............??

> > >

> > > " The vaccine, based on a clade 1 virus isolated

> > > from a Vietnamese patient in 2004, was approved

> > > by the Food and Drug Administration in April

> > > 2007. Although no one knows how well it would

> > > work against an emerging pandemic strain of H5N1,

> > > HHS officials hope it would provide some

> > > protection to those most at risk for exposure in

> > > the early months of a pandemic "

> > >

> > > Sheri

> > >

> > >

> >

>

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/mar2008

> > panupdate.html

> > >

> > >

> > > US has enough H5N1 vaccine for 13 million people

> > >

> > > Mar 20, 2008 (CIDRAP News) – A progress report

> > > released today says the US government has

> > > stockpiled enough prepandemic H5N1 influenza

> > > vaccine for 13 million people, more than double

> > > the number listed in the previous report, issued last July.

> > >

> > > The report on pandemic preparations by the

> > > Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

> > > also says the government plans to release a new

> > > version of its pandemic vaccine allocation plan

> > > in coming months, after considering comments at a

> > > series of recent meetings and forums.

> > >

> > > The 16-page report from HHS Secretary Mike

> > > Leavitt lists a wide range of HHS pandemic

> > > preparations. It emphasizes the agency's efforts

> > > to collaborate with other stakeholders in

> > > tackling problems like vaccine allocation and who

> > > should bear the burden of stockpiling supplies

> > > such as face masks, respirators, and antiviral

> > > drugs. The report is the fifth in a series that began in March

> 2006.

> > >

> > > Concerning the H5N1 vaccine, the report says, " By

> > > the end of 2007, HHS had purchased and stockpiled

> > > 13 million courses of pre-pandemic vaccine. " The

> > > previous report, issued in mid-July, said the

> > > agency had acquired 12 million doses of the

> > > vaccine, enough for 6 million people.

> > >

> > > The vaccine, based on a clade 1 virus isolated

> > > from a Vietnamese patient in 2004, was approved

> > > by the Food and Drug Administration in April

> > > 2007. Although no one knows how well it would

> > > work against an emerging pandemic strain of H5N1,

> > > HHS officials hope it would provide some

> > > protection to those most at risk for exposure in

> > > the early months of a pandemic.

> > >

> > > The report also says that HHS has acquired enough

> > > antiviral drugs to treat 40 million people, or

> > > about 80% of the agency's goal of 50 million.

> > > Officials want the states to buy enough

> > > additional doses with the help of a 25% federal

> > > subsidy to treat another 31 million people. The

> > > report does not specify how many courses the

> > > states have bought but says that many have

> > > purchased " the full subsidized amount or more. "

> > >

> > > The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

> > > (CDC) recently told CIDRAP News that the federal

> > > antiviral stockpile has reached 39.8 million

> > > treatment courses of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and

> > > 9.9 million courses of zanamivir (Relenza). Both

> > > drugs are neuraminidase inhibitors; oseltamivir

> > > is the recommended first-line treatment for H5N1 infection. .

> > >

> > > The progress report say HHS has reached out to

> > > state and local governments, medical

> > > professionals, religious leaders and ethicists,

> > > business, organized labor, and individuals for

> > > help in pandemic planning. Recent efforts

> > > included two public meetings in November and a

> > > Web dialogue last December that drew more than

> > > 400 people from 37 states into a discussion of

> > > the proposed vaccine allocation plan.

> > >

> > > During a recent pandemic simulation exercise, CDC

> > > officials said it would take at least 4 or 5

> > > months to start producing a vaccine well-matched

> > > to an emerging pandemic virus. Last October HHS

> > > released a draft vaccine allocation plan that

> > > assigned priority to deployed military and other

> > > critical national security personnel, emergency

> > > medical services and public safety workers, key

> > > government officials, medical providers and

> > > public health workers, pregnant women, infants, and toddlers.

> > >

> > > In the recent meetings and forums, the progress

> > > report says, " experts and the public identified

> > > the most important vaccination goals as

> > > protecting those who will be the first to respond

> > > to the pandemic and care for the sick, those who

> > > keep vital community services working, those who

> > > have increased exposure due to their jobs, and pregnant women

and

> > children. "

> > >

> > > Some senior citizens involved in the discussions

> > > said they would willingly give up their vaccine

> > > doses in favor of their grandchildren, despite

> > > the likelihood that their own mortality risk

> > > would be high, the HHS report says.

> > >

> > > " Based on these dialogues and the thoughtful

> > > input of so many segments of society, a working

> > > group of government officials is in the process

> > > of refining the allocation plan with the goal to

> > > release the plan in the coming months, " it states.

> > >

> > > Other recent collaboration efforts, the report

> > > says, included nearly 20 meetings around the

> > > country last fall to consider " the shared

> > > responsibility concept of stockpiling medical

> > > countermeasures (vaccines, antivirals, rapid

> > > diagnostic tests, and masks/respirators), as well

> > > as private-sector stockpiling of antivirals. " HHS

> > > plans to draft a guidance document on those

> > > topics, but the report lists no timeline.

> > >

> > > In other areas, the report says HHS:

> > > * Has awarded 27 contracts worth $3.5 billion

> > > since 2005 to develop plans and begin projects in

> > > its medical countermeasures program

> > > * Has invested more than $130 million in

> > > research on vaccine adjuvants (substances that

> > > boost the immune response to a vaccine)

> > > * Plans to study the knowledge, attitudes,

> > > beliefs, and communication message needs of

> > > vulnerable groups such as the homeless and

> > > non-English-speakers, with the aim of developing

> > > messages about community mitigation measures for combating a

> > pandemic.

> > >

> > > See also:

> > >

> > > HHS report " Pandemic Update V "

> > >

> >

>

<http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/panflureport5.html>http://www.pandemi

> > cflu.gov/plan/panflureport5.html

> > >

> > >

> > > Mar 14 CIDRAP News story

> >

>

> " <http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/mar

> > 1408states.html>HHS

> > > issues pandemic planning guide for states "

> > >

> > >

> >

>

<http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/oct240

> > 7allocation.html>Oct

> > > 24, 2007, CIDRAP News story " Pandemic vaccine

> > > proposal favors health workers, children "

> > >

> > > Jul 19, 2007, CIDRAP News story

> >

>

> " <http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/jul

> > 1907update.html>HHS

> > > updates pandemic stockpile totals and planning efforts "

> > >

> > >

> > > --------------------------------------------------------

> > > Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

> > > Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA &

Wales

> UK

> > > Vaccines -

> > > http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Vaccine

> > > Dangers & Childhood Disease & Homeopathy Email classes start in

> > March

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I have a suggestion...

Since there is so little vaccine for H5N1 and since

there are so many people it only makes sense to ration

it according to importance to society.

Therefore, I suggest that each member of Congress,

plus the Administration and top Health Officials

including their spouses and children be given this

vaccine to ensure they can continue running things.

I for one am willing to take my chances.

________________________________________________________________________________\

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